So here’s what did not quite make my cut for Games of the Year, but still seemed decent enough that I thought you all should know about them. Here’s ten. They get smaller graphics than my top four.

ZombiU (Wii U)

This is the Wii U’s killer app. It is intense and detailed, without falling into the gimmicky tech trap that most of the Wii launch games suffered.

Outwitters (iOS)

It’s no Hero Academy, but I still continue to make time for it. It’s built for the larger screen of the iPad, where it looks Retina-fantastic, but the lack of a move-undo hurts it.

Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask (3DS)

They have never made a bad Professor Layton game. Never.

Pokemon Conquest (DS)

It is such a shame that this DS release looks like such ass, because the notion of Pokemon done up in shades of Advance Wars/Fire Emblem/Hero Academy is damn powerful. I hope they do a 3DS sequel that looks less like shit.

LittleBigPlanet Vita (Vita)

This was the first time I played a Vita game and thought I was genuinely looking at a PS3 title. It looks that good.

Sleeping Dogs (PS3)

Grand Theft Auto in Hong Kong. Very well done, except that the Arkham-lite combat sucks.

PlayStation All-Stars (PS3)

Although it has been burned by finger-pointing gamers (ITZ JUST SMASH BROTHERS) and by Sony’s abandoned winter promotion, I can’t not have fun with this one. Sony is one of the few non-Nintendo houses that could pull this off, and they did.

Retro City Rampage (PS3, Vita)

I usually hate retro de-makes, and ’80s culture gags make me cringe, but this is just a super-fun teeny-tiny Grand Theft Auto.

The Unfinished Swan (PSN)

Although the game seems a bit unfinished (short, and constantly changing gimmicks), what sealed it in my memory is when you head into the final portion and have to play through the initial credit roll. Beautiful.

Rhythm Heaven Fever (Wii)

Another one that is just plain silly fun. This would be my first pick for a Wii U eShop line of $10 downloadable remastered Wii games. Extravagantly overlooked.

One Response

I can only speak to the PS3 and PSV mentions. I like Retro City Rampage quite a bit myself and feel the Vita could do with a nice GTA Chinatown Wars style of top down game too. I agree that LBP Vita is really an impressive accomplishment. And while the classic GTA and Saints Row fan in me is so ready to buy Sleeping Dogs I am going to wait for a GOTY edition that bundles in all the DLC. Lastly I’m not a fighting game guy at all so what I’ve heard (and I’ve heard a lot on podcasts) about All Stars makes me think I wouldn’t like it. Unfinished Swan is a complete blank for me.